The Home Ministry’s order asking government departments to use Hindi on social media platforms, which raised a storm across political parties, is actually a reiteration of an old order issued in March when the UPA was in power.

The order — meant only for the eight Hindi-speaking states and central government employees — did not ask that government departments use only Hindi on official Twitter, Facebook, YouTube or other social media accounts.

It only said that Hindi should be used compulsorily along with English on these platforms.

The government’s May 27 order, which was a reiteration of a March 10 order, triggered outrage in Tamil Nadu parties, including NDA allies, who were joined by the CPI(M), and National Conference.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa shot off a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying the circular was “against the letter and spirit” of the Official Languages Act, 1963, and that the “highly sensitive issue” had caused “disquiet” to the people of Tamil Nadu “who are very proud of and passionate about their linguistic heritage”.

DMK chief M Karunanidhi had railed against the “beginning of the imposition of Hindi” on Thursday.

Former finance minister P Chidambaram also criticised the circular, even though it was issued by his own party’s government. “There will be a backlash in non-Hindi speaking states, especially in Tamil Nadu. The government is well advised to proceed with caution,” Chidambaram said.

The circular was issued for “A category” states, in which Hindi is the major language — Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan. Punjab, Gujarat and Maharashtra are “B category” states, while the rest are categorised “C”.

A PMO statement issued on Friday said: “It is clarified that these instructions of the Department of Official Languages dated 10th March, 2014 do not seek to impose communication in Hindi on States which are not Hindi speaking. The instructions of Department of Official Languages have only reiterated the existing Government of India’s policy on the use of Hindi in which the use of Hindi is compulsory in Government’s communication only in the Hindi speaking States.

The MHA in its circular dated 27.05.2014 has communicated the above guidelines of the Department of OL with regard to the social media to the departments under the MHA. Therefore, this is neither a new policy nor an attempt to impose the use of Hindi on any non Hindi speaking State.”

If the matter was so simple what was the fuss about. It looks there are people only to create trouble for the new government. This clification of states as A , B and C is news to bulk of the potion. However it is good the matter has been clarified and the patriotic Tamilians can get back to work. At least Modi would have realized which are the hornets he should not mess around with. This proves that integration of this country under one language remains a very distant dream. "Ek Bharath ..." kab hoga?

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Subhash Bennur

Jun 20, 2014 at 2:54 pm

Modiji & BJP you don`t have any thing better to pursue. Development of India is the agenda and not the Insutionalizing Hindi. Why are you guys wasting time? People who voted you for development and vikas.

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Girish

Jun 20, 2014 at 2:34 pm

and people said hindutva agenda will be rigorously enforced by Modi...

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Krish

Jun 22, 2014 at 5:40 am

Thanks Mr PM. I still have faith that nationalism is not to reinvent the languages or culture, but to stand on self and meet the modernization positively, end of the day food is important for all. Please focus on agricultural development, enriching formers by modernization in agriculture. People in city retire in at age 60 in private and govt sector, formers work till their end of the life.

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Pradip Bhattacharya

Jun 20, 2014 at 4:51 pm

The frustrated opposition are trying to create an issue where there is no issue. So sorry. Thank God, AIDMK is not a partner of NDA, otherwise Modi Govt would have fallen by now!

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Simran Ghosh

Jun 20, 2014 at 5:51 pm

Indians cannot progress if they waste time making issues out of nothing. This is a perfect example where Jayalalitha and Karunanidhi are wasting everyone's time.

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raveendra

Jun 20, 2014 at 10:23 pm

How can this government make any difference (as promised in the election) if it just reiterates all UPA circulars. People are fed up with UPA circulars so there is a change in the new govenment! Are the statements of ministers on national language also reiteration?

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Rocky Rocky

Jun 20, 2014 at 11:17 pm

To expend energy on such inane subjects as speaking Hindi by mandates is so counterproductive. There are so many and much more important problems to be solved by this new administration and they decide to rile up people on which language to use! I expected much more from NaMo.